Card-handling devices with defect detection and related methods

ABSTRACT

Card-handling devices may include an input area sized and shaped to receive cards and an output area for outputting at least some of the cards. A defect detection system may be located along a card path downstream from the input area. The defect detection system may be configured to scan at least one card to determine whether at least one characteristic of the at least one card has been modified beyond a predetermined limit or whether the at least one characteristic of the at least one card is within the predetermined limit. A diverter may be configured to divert the at least one card from the card path when the at least one characteristic of the at least one card has been modified beyond the predetermined limit and enable the at least one card to continue on the card path when the at least one characteristic of the at least one card is within the predetermined limit.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of thepriority date of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No.62/898,080, filed Sep. 10, 2019, the disclosure of which is incorporatedherein in its entirety by this reference.

FIELD

This disclosure relates generally to card-handling devices and methodsof making and using card-handling devices. More specifically, disclosedembodiments relate to card-handling devices, which may screen cards fordefects, separate defective cards from approved cards, collect approvedcards for future use, and/or be capable of performing such screeningefficiently in bulk and automatically, as well as related methods.

BACKGROUND

Playing cards may deteriorate over time due to normal use. Subjectingcards to stresses outside normal use cases may accelerate deteriorationof the cards. For example, wagering game administrators, such as casinosand card rooms, frequently employ cards (e.g., in one or more 52-carddecks of standard playing cards) in the administration of wageringgames, and those cards may be processed by automatic card-handlingdevices as well as handled by dealers and patrons. Throughout the courseof these kinds of uses, the cards may be subjected to differingtemperatures, exposed to differing humidity, and bent or otherwisemanipulated by human hands, exposing the cards to oils and othersubstances from the handlers as well as bending stresses. Over time,this normal use can cause the cards to bend, fold, crease, kink, fray,and/or tear, rendering them no longer suitable for commercial use. Somedealers and/or patrons may also put excess stress on the cards,deliberately bending, folding, creasing, kinking, fraying, tearing, orotherwise marking the cards as an outlet for stress or as part of ascheme to identify cards to gain a competitive advantage. Cardsexhibiting these kinds of properties can jam automatic card-handlingdevices or otherwise cause the automatic card-handling devices toperform differently from their intended functions. In addition, deformedcards can grant a competitive advantage to patrons, who may be able toidentify certain cards in other patrons' or dealers' hands withoutseeing the face of the card.

BRIEF SUMMARY

In some embodiments, card-handling devices may include an input areasized and shaped to receive cards and an output area for outputting atleast some of the cards. A defect detection system may be located alonga card path downstream from the input area. The defect detection systemmay be configured to scan at least one card to determine whether atleast one characteristic of the at least one card has been modifiedbeyond a predetermined limit or whether the at least one characteristicof the at least one card is within the predetermined limit. A divertermay be configured to divert the at least one card from the card pathwhen the at least one characteristic of the at least one card has beenmodified beyond the predetermined limit and enable the at least one cardto continue on the card path when the at least one characteristic of theat least one card is within the predetermined limit.

In additional embodiments, methods of assembling card-handling devicesmay involve positioning a defect detection system in a card path betweenan input area and an output area, the defect detection system configuredto scan at least one card to determine whether at least onecharacteristic of the at least one card has been modified beyond apredetermined limit or whether the at least one characteristic of the atleast one card is within the predetermined limit. A diverter may bepositioned in the card path downstream from the defect detection system,the diverter configured to: divert the at least one card from the cardpath when the at least one characteristic of the at least one card hasbeen modified beyond the predetermined limit; and enable the at leastone card to continue on the card path when the at least onecharacteristic of the at least one card is within the predeterminedlimit.

In additional embodiments, methods of using card-handling devices mayinvolve placing cards in an input area of the card-handling device andmoving cards from the input area along a card path toward an outputarea. A defective card may be detected utilizing a defect detectionsystem interposed between the input area and the output area by scanningthe card to determine whether at least one characteristic of the cardhas been modified beyond a predetermined limit or whether the at leastone characteristic of the card is within the predetermined limit. Thecard may be diverted from the card path utilizing a diverter when the atleast one characteristic of the card has been modified beyond thepredetermined limit.

In additional embodiments, card-handling devices may include an inputarea sized and shaped to receive a stack of cards and a temporarystorage including movable compartments. Each compartment may be sized,shaped, and configured to temporarily store at least two cards in therespective compartment. An input mechanism may be positioned andconfigured to transfer cards from the input area to the temporarystorage. A defect detection system may be interposed between the inputarea and the temporary storage and may include an emitter positioned andconfigured to emit radiation toward a card as the card is transferred bythe input mechanism. A detector may be positioned and configured todetect radiation emitted by the emitter and reflected from a surface ofthe card toward the detector as the card is transferred by the inputmechanism. A controller may be operatively connected to at least thedetector, the controller configured to receive a signal indicative ofradiation detected by the detector and produce a signal indicative ofwhether the card is at least one of bent beyond a predefined limit ortorn.

In additional embodiments, methods of assembling card-handling devicesmay involve positioning an input mechanism between an input area sizedand shaped to receive a stack of cards and a temporary storagecomprising compartments. Each compartment may be sized, shaped, andconfigured to temporarily store at least two cards in the respectivecompartment, and the input mechanism may be configured to transfer cardsfrom the input area to the temporary storage. A defect detection systemmay be positioned between the input area and the temporary storage andmay include an emitter positioned and configured to emit radiationtoward a card as the card is transferred by the input mechanism. Adetector may be positioned and configured to detect radiation emitted bythe emitter and reflected from a surface of the card toward the detectoras the card is transferred by the input mechanism. A controller may beoperatively connected to at least the detector, the controllerconfigured to receive a signal indicative of radiation detected by thedetector and produce a signal indicative of whether the card is at leastone of bent beyond a predefined limit or torn.

In additional embodiments, methods of using card-handling devices mayinvolve placing a stack of cards in an input area of the card-handlingdevice and transferring cards from the input area toward a temporarystorage including compartments. Each compartment may be sized, shaped,and configured to temporarily store at least two cards in the respectivecompartment. A defective card may be detected utilizing a defectdetection system interposed between the input area and the temporarystorage by emitting radiation toward a card as the card is transferredby the input mechanism utilizing an emitter. Radiation emitted by theemitter and reflected from a surface of the card may be detectedutilizing a detector as the card is transferred by the input mechanism.A signal indicative of radiation detected by the detector may bereceived at a controller and the controller may produce a signalindicative of whether the card is at least one of bent beyond apredefined limit or torn.

In additional embodiments, an output mechanism of a card-handling devicemay include a first push bar positioned and configured to push a stackof cards in a respective compartment partially out of the compartment, aset of rollers positioned and configured to completely remove only onecard from the stack completely out of the compartment, and a second pushbar positioned and configured to push a remainder of the stack of cardsback into the respective compartment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

While this disclosure concludes with claims particularly pointing outand distinctly claiming specific embodiments, various features andadvantages of embodiments within the scope of this disclosure may bemore readily ascertained from the following description when read inconjunction with the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic depicting a side view of a card-handling device inaccordance with this disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a partial cutaway, side perspective view of the card-handlingdevice of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side perspective view of a first independent module of thecard-handling device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a partial cutaway, side perspective view of the firstindependent module of FIG. 4;

FIG. 5 is a partial cutaway, side perspective view of a defect detectionsystem of the card-handling device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, schematic side view of one implementation of aportion of a diverter of the card-handling device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a schematic side view of an implementation of another portionof a diverter of the card-handling device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a partial cutaway, side perspective view of the diverter ofFIG. 1, FIG. 6, and FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a partial cutaway, side perspective view of a temporarystorage and an output mechanism of the card-handling device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a schematic side view of selected portions of the outputmechanism of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of other selected portions of the outputmechanism of FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is a partial cutaway, side perspective view of the otherselected portions of the output mechanism of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a partial cutaway, perspective view of still other selectedportions of the output mechanism of FIG. 2;

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a method of assembling acard-handling device in accordance with this disclosure; and

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating a method of using a card-handlingdevice in accordance with this disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The illustrations presented in this disclosure are not meant to beactual views of any particular card-handling device or componentthereof, but are merely idealized representations employed to describeillustrative embodiments. Thus, the drawings are not necessarily toscale.

Disclosed embodiments relate generally to card-handling devices whichmay automatically screen cards for certain defects, separate defectivecards from approved cards, collect approved cards for future use, and becapable of performing such screening efficiently in bulk. For example,embodiments of card-handling devices may include a defect detectionsystem including an emitter positioned and configured to emit radiation(e.g., electromagnetic, acoustic, etc.) toward a respective card, adetector positioned and configured to detect radiation reflected off asurface of the respective card, and a controller operatively connectedto at least the detector, the controller configured to receive a signalindicative of radiation detected by the detector and produce a signalindicative of whether the card is bent beyond a predefined limit or istorn. The card-handling devices may further include, for example, adiverter operatively connected to the controller, the diverterpositioned and configured to divert a card in response to a controlsignal from the controller when the detector indicates that the card ismodified beyond a threshold amount (e.g., bent beyond the predefinedlimit, torn, ripped, is unreadable, for example, a rank and/or suit ofthe card cannot be determined, is marked or otherwise adulterated).

As a result, disclosed embodiments may be of particular use insituations where cards are processed in bulk quantities (e.g., in a deckor multiple decks at a time) and/or where cards are subjected tofrequent, excessive, or otherwise abnormal bending, folding, creasing,kinking, fraying, tearing, or otherwise marking the cards. For example,cards utilized in the game of squeeze baccarat are frequently bent,folded, creased, torn, and ripped because bending the cards is part of,and encouraged in, the game. In addition, baccarat, including squeezebaccarat, is typically administered utilizing shoes havingpre-randomized sets of playing cards having between six and twelve 52-or 53-card decks of standard playing cards. Accordingly, card-handlingdevices in accordance with this disclosure may be particularly usefulfor verifying and reusing cards that remain within commerciallyacceptable specifications following use in baccarat (especially squeezebaccarat) and for disposing of cards no longer within commerciallyacceptable specifications because of such use.

As used herein, the terms “substantially” and “about” in reference to agiven parameter, property, or condition means and includes to a degreethat one of ordinary skill in the art would understand that the givenparameter, property, or condition is met with a degree of variance, suchas within acceptable manufacturing tolerances. For example, a parameterthat is substantially or about a specified value may be at least about90% the specified value, at least about 95% the specified value, atleast about 99% the specified value, or even 100% the specified value.

As used herein, the terms “vertical” or “underlying” and “horizontal” or“lateral” may refer to a drawing figure as oriented on the drawingsheet, and are in no way limiting of orientation of an apparatus, or anyportion thereof, unless it is apparent that a particular orientation ofthe apparatus is necessary or desirable for operation in view ofgravitational forces. For example, when referring to elementsillustrated in the figures, the terms “vertical,” “underlying,”“horizontal,” or “lateral” may refer to an orientation of elements ofthe card-handling device relative to a table surface of a table to whichthe card-handling device may be placed, mounted, and/or operated.

FIG. 1 is a schematic depicting a side view of a card-handling device100 in accordance with this disclosure. The card-handling device 100 maybe configured to evaluate at least certain characteristics of cards,separate cards determined to have certain defects, and collect cards nothaving those defects for future use. The card-handling device 100 may beparticularly adapted for evaluating used cards, discarding or recyclingcards no longer appropriate for continued use, and identifying andcollating cards still appropriate for continued use. The card-handlingdevice 100 may alternatively be called, for example, a card recycler,card sorter, or card sorter and shuffler.

The card-handling device 100 may include an input area 102 sized andshaped to receive a stack of cards. For example, the input area 102 maybe positioned proximate to an exterior 114 of the card-handling device100, and may include an access panel 116 at a periphery of thecard-handling device 100 to enable a user to open the access panel 116and gain access to the input area 102 to place cards therein. The inputarea 102 may include a platform 118 at a lowermost portion of the inputarea 102 and on which a stack of cards may be supported. Sidewalls 120defining a lateral periphery of the input area 102 may be sized, shaped,and positioned to ensure that cards can be received in the input area102.

An input mechanism 104 may be located proximate to the input area 102and may be configured to transfer a card at a time from the input area102 away from the exterior 114 of the card-handling device 100. Forexample, the input mechanism 104 may include a set of rollers 122positioned and configured to displace (e.g., along a card path,laterally along a card path through the device 100) a bottommost card ina stack of cards from within the input area 102.

In some embodiments, the card-handling device 100 may include a cardidentification system 106 (e.g., which may be part of defect detectionsystem 500, discussed below, in some embodiments) located proximate tothe input mechanism 104 and configured to identify at least a rank andsuit of each card moved by the input mechanism 104. For example, thecard identification system 106 may include a sensor 108 oriented towarda major surface of each card as the card is transported by the inputmechanism 104, with adequate space between two adjacent rollers 122 forthe sensor 108 to detect at least a rank and/or suit of the respectivecard.

A defect detection system 500 may be located downstream of the inputarea 102. The defect detection system 500 may be positioned, oriented,and configured to detect one or more defects of each card transferred bythe input mechanism 104, which defects may include at least, forexample, a respective card being bent beyond a predefined limit, folded,ripped, creased, kinked, frayed, marked, modified, unreadable (e.g., bythe card identification system 106), or torn.

The card-handling device 100 may include a diverter 110 coincident with,or downstream of, the defect detection system 500. The diverter 110 maybe positioned and configured to divert a card when the defect detectionsystem 500 detects that the card is defective, enabling the diverter 110to separate defective cards from approved cards. As discussed below ingreater detail, the diverter 110 may separate cards by, for example,changing the path upon which such cards travel (e.g., by reversingdirection, by moving the cards in a traverse direction, in a similarplane or in an intersecting plane, or combinations thereof).

A temporary storage 112 may be located downstream from the diverter 110.The temporary storage 112 may be positioned, sized, shaped, andconfigured to store the cards that have been approved (e.g., cards thatwithin threshold limits of modification, damage, and/or defectiveness),or at least cards designated not defective, by the defect detectionsystem 500. For example, the temporary storage 112 (e.g., a carousel)may be capable of temporarily storing cards in bulk quantities. Morespecifically, the temporary storage 112 may be configured to temporarilystore between one complete 52-card deck of standard playing cards andfifteen complete 53-card decks of standard playing cards including onejoker and one or more sets of fifteen special-purpose cards (e.g., cutcards, blanks, bonus cards). A 52-card deck of standard playing cardsmay have ranks from ace through ten, jack, queen, and king in each offour suits: spades, clubs, diamonds, and hearts.

In additional embodiments, the defective cards may be sorted into onesection of the temporary storage 112 while approved card are sorted inanother section of the temporary storage 112.

The card-handling device 100 may include an output mechanism 1000positioned and configured to remove cards from the temporary storage112. The output mechanism 1000 may enable approved cards, or at leastcards designated not defective, to be output from the card-handlingdevice 100 for reuse. For example, the output mechanism 1000 may collatebatches of cards that have passed inspection by the defect detectionsystem 500 for output as a batch. More specifically, the outputmechanism 1000 may form batches of cards including one or more completedecks of 52 standard playing cards for output from the card-handlingdevice 100. In some embodiments, the card-handling device 100 may storeand output approved cards in a sorted order (e.g., a complete sortedorder or sorted to an amount allowed given the particular composition ofapproved and defective cards input into the device 100).

FIG. 2 is a partial cutaway, side perspective view of the card-handlingdevice 100 of FIG. 1. The sensor 108 of the card identification system106 may be, for example, laterally interposed (e.g., along a card path)between the input area 102 and the defect detection system 500. As acard 210 is moved laterally from the bottom of the stack of cards 210within the input area 102, toward the temporary storage 112, and pastthe card identification system 106, the sensor 108 may detect radiationtransmitted (e.g., reflected) from a major surface 212 of the card 210,enabling the sensor 108 to detect variations in that radiation. Theinformation regarding that variation in reflected radiation may be usedto identify the rank and suit of the card 210, and associate the card210 and its position within the card-handling device 100 with its rankand suit.

The defect detection system 500 may be, for example, laterallyinterposed between the card identification system 106 and the temporarystorage 112 in embodiments where the card-handling device 100 includesthe card identification system 106. This relative positioning for thecard identification system 106 and the defect detection system 500 mayenable the card-handling device 100 to associate the approved ordefective status of a given card 210 with the identity of that card 210(e.g., rank and suit for playing cards and identifier forspecial-purpose cards, such as cut cards, blanks, and bonus cards) and aposition of that card 210 within the card-handling device 100.

The diverter 110 may be, for example, laterally interposed between thedefect detection system 500 and the temporary storage 112. This relativepositioning may ensure that cards 210 identified as defective may bepromptly separated from cards 210 that are approved or otherwise notdefective, that only those cards 210 confirmed not to be defective arepassed on to the temporary storage 112, and that defect detection isassociated with the identity of the card 210 (e.g., including rank andsuit for playing cards and identifier for special-purpose cards, such ascut cards, blanks, and bonus cards).

The temporary storage 112 may be laterally interposed between thediverter 110 and the output mechanism 1000. For example, cards 210 maybe input into the temporary storage 112 on one lateral side and may beoutput from the temporary storage 112 on another, at least substantiallyopposite lateral side. In other embodiments, the output mechanism 1000may simply be circumferentially offset from the diverter 110 around aperiphery of the temporary storage 112, such as, for example, beinglocated above or below the temporary storage 112.

A controller 202 may be operatively connected to at least the inputmechanism 104, card identification system 106 (in embodiments includingthe card identification system 106), defect detection system 500,diverter 110, temporary storage 112, and output mechanism 1000. Thecontroller 202 may be configured to receive feedback signals from atleast the card identification system 106 and the defect detection system500 and output control signals to each of the input mechanism 104, cardidentification system 106, defect detection system 500, diverter 110,temporary storage 112, and output mechanism 1000 at least partially inresponse to the feedback signals.

The controller 202 may be configured to execute software programscontaining computing instructions and may include one or more processors204 and memory 206 operatively connected to one another. The one or moreprocessors 204 may be configured to execute a wide variety of operatingsystems and applications including the computing instructions forcontrolling card-handling devices 100 of the present disclosure. The oneor more processors 204 may be configured as, for example, amicroprocessor, microcontroller, digital signal processor (DSP), orstate machine suitable for carrying out processes disclosed herein. Theone or more processors 204 may also be implemented as a combination ofcomputing devices, such as a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor,a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors inconjunction with a DSP core, or any other such configuration.

The memory 206 may be used to hold computing instructions, data, andother information for performing a wide variety of tasks includingcontrolling card-handling devices 100 in accordance with thisdisclosure. By way of example, and not limitation, the memory 206 mayinclude Synchronous Random Access Memory (SRAM), Dynamic RAM (DRAM),Read-Only Memory (ROM), Flash memory, and the like. The term “memory,”as used herein, shall be interpreted to exclude transitory signals.

In some embodiments, the controller 202 may include or be operativelyconnected to one or more user input and/or output devices. For example,a display may be operatively connected to the controller 202 (e.g.,supported on a shared housing with other components of the card-handlingdevice 100 or separate from the housing and connected via a wired orwireless connection). The display may be configured to displayinformation about the operating condition of the card-handling device100 as well as real-time information regarding cards 210 processed bythe card-handling device 100. The display may include a wide variety ofdisplays such as, for example, light-emitting diode displays, liquidcrystal displays, cathode ray tubes, and the like. In addition, thedisplay may be configured with a touch-screen feature for accepting userinput. As another example, a printer may be operatively connected to thecontroller 202 (e.g., via a wired or wireless connection). The printermay be configured to print information about the operating condition ofthe card-handling device 100 as well as real-time information regardingcards 210 processed by the card-handling device 100 (e.g., informationsufficient to verify outcomes from games administered utilizing thecard-handling device 100). The user input devices may include, forexample, keyboards, push-buttons, switches, mice, joysticks, hapticdevices, microphones, speakers, cameras, and touchscreens.

In some embodiments, the controller 202 may include or be operativelyconnected to one or more communication devices configured forcommunicating with other devices or communication networks. Asnonlimiting examples, the communication device(s) may include elementsfor communicating on wired and wireless communication media, such as,for example, serial ports, parallel ports, Ethernet connections,universal serial bus (USB) connections, IEEE 1394 (“firewire”)connections, THUNDERBOLT™ connections, BLUETOOTH® wireless networks,ZIGBEE® wireless networks, 802.11 type wireless networks, cellulartelephone/data networks, and other suitable communication interfaces andprotocols.

The controller 202 may be configured in many different ways withdifferent types of interconnecting buses between the various elements.Moreover, the various elements may be subdivided physically,functionally, or a combination thereof. As one nonlimiting example, thememory 206 may be divided into cache memory, graphics memory, and mainmemory. Each of these memories may communicate directly or indirectlywith the one or more processor(s) 204 on separate buses, partiallycombined buses, or a common bus.

In some embodiments, the card-handling device 100 may be assembled in amodular fashion, with functional subgroupings of certain componentssupplied in an independent module and connected to a shared frame. Forexample, the card-handling device 100 may include a base 208 extendingfrom one lateral side of the card-handling device 100 to another,opposite side of the card-handling device 100 at a bottom portion of thecard-handling device 100. Each module may be supported on, and affixedto, the base 208. For example, the input area 102, portions of the inputmechanism 104, and the card identification system 106 may be provided asa first independent module 300 supported on, and affixed to, the base208 at a first lateral side thereof. The defect detection system 500 maybe provided as a second independent module 400 supported on, and affixedto, the base 208 laterally adjacent to the first independent module 300.The diverter 110 may be provided as a third independent module 800supported on, and affixed to, the base 208 laterally adjacent to thedefect detection system 500. The base 208 may directly support certaincomponents of the card-handling device 100. For example, the temporarystorage 112 and the controller 202 may be provided directly on the base208, such that the base 208 may also be characterized as an independentmodule. The output mechanism 1000 may be provided as a fourthindependent module 1100 supported on, and affixed to, the base 208laterally adjacent to the temporary storage 112. Additional detailregarding these modules and the components included therewith isprovided in connection with FIGS. 3 through 13 below.

FIG. 3 is a side perspective view of a first independent module 300 ofthe card-handling device 100 of FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a partial cutaway,side perspective view of the first independent module 300 of thecard-handling device 100 of FIG. 1. With combined reference to FIGS. 3and 4, the first independent module 300 may include, for example, theinput area 102, a portion of the input mechanism 104, and the cardidentification system 106 supported on, and affixed to, a first frame402 to form the first independent module 300. The first frame 402 mayinclude, for example, a pair of plates 404 with other components of thefirst independent module 300 supported generally between the plates 404.Each plate 404 may be affixed to, and positioned a predefined distancefrom, the other plate 404 by spacers 308 extending laterally between theplates 404. Each plate 404 may include attachment features (e.g., holes,threaded holes, snap receivers) sized, positioned, and configured toenable the operational components and the spacers 308 of the firstindependent module 300 to be supported by the plates 404 in a selectedlocation and orientation relative to one another. In some embodiments,the plates 404 may include additional holes enabling portions of theoperational components not relied on for attachment to a given plate 404to extend through the hole. Each spacer 308 may include, for example, apost or pillar with snap-in, interference-fit, or threaded connectionsor a bolt. A minimum spacing between adjacent plates 404 maintained bythe spacers 308 may be, for example, about 2.5 inches or more. Morespecifically, the minimum spacing between adjacent plates 404 may be,for example, between about 2.75 inches and about 6 inches. As aspecific, nonlimiting example, the minimum spacing between adjacentplates 404 may be between about 3 inches and about 5 inches (e.g., about4 inches). In FIG. 4, one plate 404 has been removed for convenience indepicting other components of the first independent module 300.

A width and depth of the input area 102, as defined by the sidewalls120, may be in a rectangular cross-sectional shape sufficiently large toensure that standard playing cards 210 can be accommodated within thesidewalls 120 of the input area 102. More specifically, the width anddepth of the input area 102 may be between about 2.25 inches by about3.5 inches and about 2.75 inches by about 3.75 inches. As a specific,nonlimiting example, the width and depth of the input area 102 may bebetween about 2.3 inches by about 3.55 inches and about 2.7 inches byabout 3.7 inches (e.g., about 2.65 inches by about 3.65 inches).

In some embodiments, the input area 102 may include a biasing system 310positioned and configured to urge cards 210 within the input area 102toward the input mechanism 104. The biasing system 310 may include, forexample, a pusher 314 having a major surface 406 sized, oriented, andpositioned to contact a corresponding major surface of an uppermost card210 in a stack of cards 210 within the input area 102. For example, thepusher 314 may be positionable proximate a top of the input area 102 andmay be configured to urge cards 210 in the stack downward toward theinput mechanism 104. The pusher 314 may include, for example, a weightpositioned and configured to urge the pusher 314 toward the inputmechanism 104 under the force of gravity or a motor 302 (e.g., asolenoid) and a force transfer mechanism 304 positioned and configuredto transfer an output force from the motor 302 to the pusher 314 to urgethe pusher 314 toward the input mechanism 104. The force transfermechanism 304 may include, for example, a series of gears and/or pulleyspositioned and configured to transfer the force generated by the motor302 to raise and lower the pusher 314. The input area 102 may include,for example, a stack height sensor 320 (e.g., an infrared (IR) sensor,an ultrasonic sensor, a laser sensor) positioned and configured todetermine a height of the stack of cards 210 within the 102. The stackheight sensor 320 and motor 302 may be operatively connected to thecontroller 202 (see FIG. 2), enabling the controller 202 (see FIG. 2) toreceive an indication of whether cards 210 are present in the input area102 and what height in the input area 102 the stack reaches and to issuecontrol signals to the motor 302 to ensure that the major surface 406 ofthe pusher 314 contacts the topmost card 210 in the stack and that thepusher 314 exerts at least some force urging the stack toward the inputmechanism 104.

In some embodiments, the input area 102 may include a bottom plate 324positioned at or proximate to the bottom ends of the sidewalls 120. Thebottom plate 324 may have a major surface 408 positioned and oriented tocontact a lower face on a major surface 212 of a lowermost card 210 inthe stack within the input area 102. An angle at which the major surface408 of the bottom plate 324 is oriented relative to horizontal may beadjustable. For example, the bottom plate 324 may be pivotable about oneend (e.g., utilizing a hinge at an end proximate to where cards 210laterally exit the input area 102), and the other end of the bottomplate 324 may be secured to an actuator 306 through an arcing passageway410 in the sidewalls 120. A door sensor 412 (e.g., a contact switch) maybe positioned and configured to detect when the sidewall 118 operable asa door to the input area 102 is open or closed. The door sensor 412 andthe actuator 306 may be operatively connected to the controller 202 (seeFIG. 2), enabling the controller 202 (see FIG. 2) to cause the bottomplate 324 to pivot away from horizontal during loading cards 210 into,and unloading cards 210 from, the input area 102 and to cause the bottomplate 324 to return toward (or to) horizontal once the sidewall 118operating as the door is closed. A maximum angle of the major surface408 of the bottom plate 324 relative to horizontal may be, for example,about 45° or less. More specifically, the maximum angle of the majorsurface 408 of the bottom plate 324 relative to horizontal may be, forexample, between about 15° and about 40°. As a specific, nonlimitingexample, the maximum angle of the major surface 408 of the bottom plate324 relative to horizontal may be, for example, between about 20 andabout 35° (e.g., about) 30°.

The input mechanism 104 may include, for example, at least one pick-offroller 414 positioned and configured to move cards 210 from the inputarea 102 toward the temporary storage 112 (see FIGS. 1, 2). For example,the input mechanism 104 may include two pick-off rollers 414 underlyingthe input area 102, the pick-off rollers 414 configured to move abottom-most card 210 in a stack in the input area 102 toward a lateralside of the first independent module 300 opposite the input area 102.More specifically, each pick-off roller 414 may be positioned to contactonly the bottom-most card 210 in the stack and to move that card 210,one card 210 at a time, from the stack in the input area 102 toward alaterally adjacent component of the first independent module 300, suchas, for example, the card identification system 106 shown in FIG. 4, ora laterally adjacent module. The bottom plate 324 may be laterallysmaller than the cards 210, enabling the pick-off rollers 414 to contactthe bottom-most card 210 laterally adjacent to the bottom plate 324, ormay include holes therethrough, enabling the pick-off rollers 414 tocontact the bottom-most card 210 through the bottom plate 324. Eachpick-off roller 414 may be driven, or the pick-off rollers 414 as agroup may be collectively driven, by an associated motor 312, eitherdirectly or via a force transfer mechanism. The motor 312 may beoperatively connected to the controller 202, which may issue controlsignals to the motor 312 to cause the motor 312 to selectively drive theassociated pick-off roller 414 in a selected direction or stop drivingthe associated pick-off roller 414.

The input mechanism 104 may further include, for example, a pair ofbrake rollers 416 positioned and configured to receive each card 210from the last pick-off roller 414 and pass each respective card 210toward the temporary storage 112 (see FIGS. 1, 2). For example, thebrake rollers 416 may be located less than a card's 210 minimum lengthlaterally away from the last pick-off roller 414, one of the brakerollers 416 may be located vertically to contact a leading end of a card210 as the card 210 is advanced by the pick-off rollers 414 and draw thecard 210 between the brake rollers 416, and the brake rollers 416 may bevertically spaced from one another by a distance equal to, or less than,an average thickness of the cards 210. More specifically, the brakerollers 416 may be located about 3.25 inches or less laterally away fromthe last pick-off roller 414, the bottom-most brake roller 416 may belocated such that a vertex of the brake roller 416 is between about 0.01inch and about 0.125 inch vertically higher than the vertex of theimmediately adjacent pick-off roller 414, and the brake rollers 416 maybe vertically spaced from one another by a distance of between about0.005 inch and about 0.02 inch. At least one of the brake rollers 416may be driven by an associated motor 316, either directly or via a forcetransfer mechanism. The motor 316 may be operatively connected to thecontroller 202, which may issue control signals to the motor 316 tocause the motor 316 to selectively drive the associated brake roller 416in a selected direction or stop driving the associated brake roller 416.

The card identification system 106 may be located downstream of thebrake rollers 416, and may be configured to receive each card 210 fromthe brake rollers 416, identify each card 210 received from the brakerollers 416 and pass each card identified by the card identificationsystem 106 on to a next adjacent component or independent module. Forexample, the card identification system 106 may include another pair ofpinch rollers 418 (which may also be characterized as “speed-up” or“transport” rollers) located less than a card's 210 minimum lengthlaterally away from the upstream brake rollers 416 and having a centralpinch point generally aligned (e.g., exactly aligned or spaced one card210 thickness or less from being aligned) with the pinch point of thebrake rollers 416 interposed between the card identification system 106and the input area 102. At least one of the pinch rollers 418 may bedriven by an associated motor 318, either directly or via a forcetransfer mechanism. The motor 318 may be operatively connected to thecontroller 202, which may issue control signals to the motor 318 tocause the motor 318 to selectively drive the associated pinch rollers418 in a selected direction or stop driving the associated pinch rollers418.

The card identification system 106 may include a sensor 108 laterallyadjacent to the pinch rollers 418 and oriented to detect the identity ofcards 210 as the cards 210 are moved past the sensor 108 by the pinchrollers 418. The sensor 108 may be configured to detect the identity ofthe cards 210 by, for example, detecting radiation reflected from theface of the card 210, generating a signal indicative of the detectedradiation, and using pattern recognition to associate that signal,locally at the sensor 108 or utilizing the controller 202, with anidentity of the card 210. The sensor 108 may include, for example, acamera, a video graphics array camera, an active-pixel sensor, or acomplementary metal-oxide-semiconductor sensor. The sensor 108, thecontroller 202, or both may be trained to correlate a given signal fromthe sensor 108 with an accurate identification of a card's 210 identity,including rank and suit or identity as a special card (e.g., cut card,blank, bonus card), utilizing a neural network, by converting individualpixels to binary and performing a template match, or otherwise asdescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,764,836, issued Jul. 27, 2010, to Downs etal., the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety bythis reference. The sensor 108 may be located within a dedicated housing422 within the card-handling device 100 (see FIGS. 1, 2), and optionallywithin the first independent module 300. For example, the housing 422may be dust-proof, may include an aperture 424 through which the sensor108 may detect information from the face of the card 210 on one majorsurface 212 on a bottom side of the card 210, and may be independentlyremovable from the item card-handling device 100 (see FIGS. 1, 2), thefirst independent module 300, or both for ease of installation,servicing, and replacement.

In some embodiments, the input mechanism 104 may include a pushback bar420 positioned and configured to selectively urge one or more cards 210from proximate to the pick-off rollers 414 back into the input area 102.For example, the pushback bar 420 may be laterally interposed betweenthe final pick-off roller 414 and the brake rollers 416. The pushbackbar 420 may include, for example, an arm selectively movable fromoutside a path traveled by cards 210 from the input area 102 toward thecard identification system 106, leaving the path unobstructed by thepushback bar 420, into the path and toward the input area 102. Thepushback bar 420 may be actuated by a motor 322, either directly or viaa force transfer mechanism. The motor 322 may be operatively connectedto the controller 202, which may issue control signals to the motor 322to cause the motor 322 to selectively drive the associated pushback bar420 or stop driving the associated pushback bar 420. More specifically,the motor 322 may cause the pushback bar 420 to repeatedly enter thepath moving in a direction toward the input area 102, push any card 210within the path over the lateral distance covered by the pushback bar420 completely back into the input area 102, and exit the path to returnto its original position in a reciprocating fashion. The controller 202may be configured to activate the pushback bar 420 when a jam in theinput mechanism 104 has been detected, such as, for example, when a timebetween activating the pick-off roller 414 and receiving a signal fromthe card identification system 106 exceeds a predefined limit or when atime between receiving one signal from the card identification system106 and receiving a subsequent signal from the card identificationsystem 106 exceeds a predefined limit. The predefined limit foractivating the pushback bar 420 may be, for example, about 5 seconds orless (e.g., about 2 seconds, about 1 second).

FIG. 5 is a partial cutaway, side perspective view of the defectdetection system 500 of the card-handling device 100 of FIG. 1. Thedefect detection system 500 may be the second independent module, andmay be positioned along a card path through the device 100 (e.g.,laterally adjacent to) the first independent module 300 of FIGS. 3 and4. As with the first independent module 300, the defect detection system500 may include a second frame 502 having a pair of plates 404 separatedby, and secured to one another, by spacers 308. The plates 404 mayinclude attachment features (e.g., holes, threaded holes, snapreceivers) sized, positioned, and configured to enable the operationalcomponents and the spacers 308 of the defect detection system 500 to besupported by the plates 404 in a selected location and orientationrelative to one another. In some embodiments, the plates 404 may includeadditional holes enabling portions of the operational components notrelied on for attachment to a given plate 404 to extend through thehole. As with FIG. 4, one plate 404 in FIG. 5 has been removed forconvenience in depicting other components of the defect detection system500.

The defect detection system 500 may include, for example, additionalportions of the input mechanism 104, such as a belt transport 504 and apinch roller 506 positioned and configured to receive each card 210 fromthe pinch rollers 418 (see FIG. 4) of the card identification system 106(see FIG. 4) and pass each respective card 210 toward the temporarystorage 112 (see FIGS. 1, 2). For example, the belt transport 504 andpinch roller 506 may be located less than a card's minimum lengthlaterally away from the pinch rollers 418 (see FIG. 4), may have acentral pinch point generally aligned (e.g., exactly aligned or spacedone card 210 thickness or less from being aligned) with the pinch pointof the pinch rollers 418, and may be vertically spaced from one anotherby a distance equal to, or less than, an average thickness of the cards210. At least the belt transport 504, and optionally the pinch roller506, may be driven by an associated motor 508, either directly or via aforce transfer mechanism. The motor 508 may be operatively connected tothe controller 202, which may issue control signals to the motor 508 tocause the motor 508 to selectively drive the associated belt transport504 and/or pinch roller 506 in a selected direction or stop driving theassociated belt transport 504 and/or pinch roller 506. The belttransport 504 may extend laterally along at least substantially anentire lateral extent of the defect detection system 500 and, once acard 210 has laterally passed the pinch roller 506, a major surface 212on an underside of each card 210 may rest on the belt transport 504 anda major surface 212 on a top side of each card 210 may be free fromcontact with any other device or structure. As a result, each card 210may at least temporarily take on its natural shape during transport onthe belt transport 504, including exhibiting any bends, folds, creases,kinks, frays, and/or tears in the card 210. An unimpeded view of themajor surface 212 of each card 210 from a top side of the card 210 maybe granted while the card 210 is supported on the belt transport 504.

The defect detection system 500 may include an emitter 510 positionedand configured to emit radiation toward a card 210 as the card 210 istransferred by the belt transport 504 of the input mechanism 104. Forexample, the emitter 510 may be located proximate to the pinch roller506 above the belt transport 504, may be supported on the second frame502, and may be oriented to direct a beam, line, or point of radiatedenergy toward a upward-facing major surface 212 of each card in apredefined location along the belt transport 504. More specifically, theemitter 510 may be oriented to direct a line of infrared radiationacross an entire width of the upward-facing major surface 212 of eachcard at approximately a midpoint of the belt transport 504, the infraredradiation being emitted at an oblique angle relative to the belttransport 504 and to horizontal. As a specific, nonlimiting example, theemitter 510 may be positioned and oriented to direct an infrared laserline across an entire width of a card's 210 back major surface 212, andrepeated analysis of the reflected radiation as the card 210 is movedlengthwise by the belt transport 504 may enable the defect detectionsystem 500 to capture information at least substantially representativeof the shape of the entire back major surface 212 of the card 210. Theemitter 510 may include, for example, a laser. More specifically, theemitter 510 may include, for example, a line laser. As a specific,nonlimiting example, the emitter 510 may include an infrared line laserhaving a power rating of about 100 W or less.

In some embodiments, the defect detection system 500 may include one ormore radiation blockers 512 interposed between the emitter 510 and thecard 210 on the upper surface of the belt transport 504. Each radiationblocker 512 may be positioned and may be of a material configured to atleast substantially block or otherwise absorb a portion of the radiationemitted by the emitter 510. Radiation blockers 512 may assist infocusing radiation from the emitter 510, ensuring that less radiation isleaked around the interior of the defect detection system 500, reducingthe likelihood that leaked radiation may affect defect detection,increasing the comparative intensity of radiation reflected off themajor surface 212 of each card 210, and improving the accuracy withwhich defects in each card 210 may be detected.

The defect detection system 500 may include a detector 514 positionedand configured to detect radiation emitted by the emitter 510 andreflected from the upward-facing major surface 212 of a card 210 as thecard 210 is transferred by the belt transport 504 of the input mechanism104. For example, the detector 514 may be located laterally downstreamfrom the pinch roller 506 above the belt transport 504, may be supportedon the second frame 502, and may be oriented to detect the beam, line,or point of radiated energy reflected from the upward-facing majorsurface 212 of each card in a predefined location along the belttransport 504. More specifically, the detector 514 may be positioned andoriented to detect a line of infrared radiation across an entire widthof the upward-facing major surface 212 of each card at approximately amidpoint of the belt transport 504. While FIG. 5 illustrates the emitter510 and detector 514 on one side of the cards 210, in additionalembodiments, other configurations may be utilized (e.g., thrutransmission).

The detector 514 may be configured to receive the type of radiationtransmitted (e.g., reflected, refracted) from the emitter 510). Forexample, the detector 514 may include a camera. More specifically, thedetector 514 may include, for example, a video graphics array camera ora super video graphics array camera. The detector 514, the controller202, or both may be trained to correlate a given signal from thedetector 514 with an identification of the degree to which the majorsurface 212 of a card's 210 has deviated from a horizontal plane. Forexample, the detector 514, the controller 202, or both may becooperatively programmed to employ pattern recognition to identifyvariations in the distance between the illuminated line of radiationfrom the emitter 510 on the major surface 212 of the card 210 and thedetector 514 both along the line across the width of the card 210 andalong the length of the card 210 as the card 210 is moved by the belttransport 504. More specifically, the detector 514, the controller 202,or both may be cooperatively programmed to acquire at least one image ofthe card 210 while illuminated by the emitter 510, extract a region ofthe image(s) where the radiation is most intense, analyze a region ofthe reflected radiation of highest intensity across the width of thecard 210 to determine the distance from the major surface 212 to thedetector 514 along the region of reflected radiation, perform a medianfilter to reduce noise, and repeat this process along the length of thecard 210. The detector 514, the controller 202, or both cooperativelymay thus be able to determine whether a card 210 has been bent, folded,creased, kinked, frayed, or marked beyond an acceptable tolerance orwhether the card 210 has been torn or ripped.

The input mechanism 104 may include a pinch belt transport 516 locateddownstream of the detector 514 and configured to pinch each card 210previously free to exhibit any deformations from flat closer to beingflat. For example, the belt transport 504 and pinch belt transport 516may be located more than a card's minimum length laterally away from theimmediately preceding pinch roller 506, may have a central pinch pointgenerally aligned (e.g., exactly aligned or spaced one card 210thickness or less from being aligned) with the pinch point of the belttransport 504 and pinch roller 506, and may be vertically spaced fromone another by a decreasing distance from a maximum greater than orequal to half of a length of a card 210 to a minimum equal to, or lessthan, an average thickness of the cards 210. A lateral distance overwhich the distance between the pinch belt transport 516 and the belttransport 504 may decrease due to angling of a bottom surface of thepinch belt transport 516 relative to the belt transport 504 may be, forexample, about equal to a length of a card 210 or less. The pinch belttransport 516 may be driven by an associated motor 518, either directlyor via a force transfer mechanism. The motor 518 may be operativelyconnected to the controller 202, which may issue control signals to themotor 518 to cause the motor 518 to selectively drive the associatedpinch belt transport 516 in a selected direction or stop driving theassociated pinch belt transport 516.

In some embodiments, at least a portion of a diverter 110 may beincluded in the defect detection system 500. For example, the diverter110 may include a deflector 520 positioned and configured to remove atleast certain defective cards 210 from further traveling along the inputmechanism 104 and redirect the defective cards 210 toward a compartment522 positioned, sized, shaped, and otherwise configured to temporarilystore cards 210 having the certain defect. More specifically, thedeflector 520 may be positioned and configured to divert each card 210detected to be torn by the defect detection system 500 downward fromproximate to the belt transport 504 to a compartment 522 configured as abasin underlying the belt transport 504 and sized to hold bulkquantities of torn cards 210 in the compartment 522 for subsequentremoval, inspection, recycling, repurposing, or any combination ofthese. As a specific, nonlimiting example, the deflector 520 may bepositioned and configured to divert torn cards 210 from laterallyadjacent to the belt transport 504 downward to a compartment 522 sizedto hold at least 52 (e.g., up to 450) torn cards 210 and accessible bypulling the compartment 522 out like a drawer.

The deflector 520 may include, for example, a ramp, scoop, or otherwisecurved or sloped member selectively movable into the card path, causingadvancing cards 210 to contact the deflector 520 and be diverted fromthe card path downward to the compartment 522. More specifically, thedeflector 520 may pivot from below a pinch point of the pinch belttransport 516, to above the pinch point of the pinch belt transport 516,to present a curved surface that a respective card 210 may contact,causing the card 210 to be redirected as the card 210 is advancedagainst the curved surface of the deflector 520 and fall into thecompartment 522. As a specific, nonlimiting example, the deflector 520may include a scoop configured to pivot about a roller at a forward,lower-most end of the pinch belt transport 516 from a first locationbelow the pinch point of the pinch belt transport 516 to a secondlocation above the pinch point, and an advancing card 210 may impact aconcave surface of the deflector 520, be redirected downward as the cardis advanced against the deflector 520, and fall into the compartment 522with any other loose cards 210 therein. The deflector 520 may beselectively moved from the first location to the second location undercontrol of the controller 202 at least when the controller 202 receivesfrom identification system 106, the detector 514, or both an indicationthat a card 210 approaching the deflector 520 is unidentifiable, torn,incomplete, upside-down, or otherwise unreadable by the identificationsystem 106.

FIG. 6 is a schematic side view of a portion of the diverter 110interposed between the input mechanism 104 and the temporary storage 112of FIG. 1. This specifically depicted portion of the diverter 110 may beat a terminus of the diverter 110, where cards 210 are introduced intoanother compartment 808, which may also be characterized as a “vault.”This portion of the diverter 110 may include, for example, a pair ofpinch rollers 602 positioned and configured to receive each card 210from an upstream portion of the diverter 110, as described in greaterdetail in connection with FIGS. 7 and 8, and pass each respective card210 toward the other compartment 808. For example, one of the pinchrollers 602 may be located vertically to contact a leading end of a card210 as the card 210 is advanced through the diverter 110 and draw thecard 210 between the pinch rollers 602, and the pinch rollers 602 may bevertically spaced from one another by a distance equal to, or less than,an average thickness of the cards 210. At least one of the pinch rollers602 may be driven by an associated motor, either directly or via a forcetransfer mechanism. The motor may be operatively connected to thecontroller 202, which may issue control signals to the motor to causethe motor to selectively drive the associated pinch roller 602 in aselected direction or stop driving the associated pinch roller 602.

The diverter 110 may include yet another pair of pinch rollers 604positioned and configured to receive each card 210 from the adjacentpinch rollers 602 and selectively pass each respective card 210 towardthe other compartment 808. For example, the pinch rollers 604 may belocated less than a card's 210 minimum length laterally away from theupstream pinch rollers 602, one of the pinch rollers 604 may be locatedvertically to contact a leading end of a card 210 as the card 210 isadvanced by the pinch rollers 602 and draw the card 210 between thepinch rollers 604, and the pinch rollers 604 may be vertically spacedfrom one another by a distance equal to, or less than, an averagethickness of the cards 210. At least one of the pinch rollers 604 may bedriven by an associated motor, either directly or via a force transfermechanism. The motor may be operatively connected to the controller 202,which may issue control signals to the motor to cause the motor toselectively drive the associated pinch roller 604 in a selecteddirection or stop driving the associated pinch roller 604.

The diverter 110 may include, for example, a swing arm 618 positioned,shaped, and configured to permit each card 210 to pass from the firstpair of pinch rollers 602 to the second pair of pinch rollers 602 whentraveling along the card path (e.g., laterally) from proximate to thedefect detection system 500 (see FIG. 5) toward the other compartment808 and to ensure each card 210 is stacked on previously inserted cardsin the other compartment 808. The swing arm 618 may be configured tomove in a reciprocating fashion in directions parallel to the movementof cards 210 between the rollers 602 and 604, as shown by the arrowsunderlying the swing arm 618. For the sake of clarity, the swing arm 618is shown at both lateral extents of its reciprocating movement, thoughonly one swing arm 618 may typically be provided in the diverter 110.The swing arm 618 may include, for example, a deflecting portion 622shaped to permit a card 210 to pass in a predetermined direction alongthe card path (e.g., from the first pair of pinch rollers 602 to thesecond pair of pinch rollers 604 and beyond) when the swing arm 618 isin the a first, downstream position as shown on the right-hand side ofFIG. 6. The deflecting portion 622 of the swing arm 618 may also beconfigured to ensure that each newly inserted card 210 is fully insertedinto the other compartment 808, is positioned on top of the stack withinthe other compartment 808, and is capable of receiving the next insertedcard 210 above the last inserted card 210. The swing arm 618 may alsoinclude, for example, a swinging portion 620 connected to the deflectingportion 622, the swinging portion 620 configured, under the force ofgravity, to urge the swing arm 618 to adopt an orientation enabling theforegoing functionality.

Finally, the swing arm 618 may include a pivot 612 interposed betweenthe deflecting portion 622 and the swinging portion 620, the pivot 612supported by the a frame 802 of an associated module 800 (see FIG. 8)and configured to enable the swing arm 618 to rotate about the pivot612, at least over a certain range of motion. More specifically, thedeflecting portion 622 of the swing arm 618 may extend from below thepinch point of the second pair of pinch rollers 604 upward to above thepinch point of the second pair of pinch rollers 604, and laterally fromproximate to the second pair of pinch rollers 604 beyond a farthestlateral extent of the second pair of pinch rollers 604 when the swingarm 618 is in a first, rightmost position, as shown in FIG. 6. Thedeflecting portion 622 of the swing arm 618 may extend from below thepinch point of the first pair of pinch rollers 602 upward to above thepinch point of the first pair of pinch rollers 602, and laterally fromproximate to the first pair of pinch rollers 602 at least to a closestlateral extent of the second pair of pinch rollers 604 when the swingarm 618 is in a second, leftmost position, as also shown in FIG. 6. Insome embodiments, the swing arm 618 may include a biasing element 614(e.g., a spring) positioned and configured to bias the respective swingarm 618 toward a rotational position where the deflecting portion 622 islocated in a predetermined orientation. In some embodiments, the swingarm 618 may include a backstop 616 positioned and configured to inhibit(e.g., prevent) rotation of an associated swing arm 618 beyond a pointwhere the deflecting portion 622 would be oriented away from the othercompartment 808.

In operation, a card 210 driven by the first pair of pinch rollers 602may contact the deflecting portion 622 of the swing arm 618 in the firstposition, rotating the swing arm 618 clockwise (when viewed in theorientation shown in FIG. 6) to a point where the deflecting portion 622is located below the pinch points of the first pair of pinch rollers 602and the second pair of pinch rollers 604 (i.e., from the orientation fordeflecting portion 622 shown in dashed lines to the orientation shown insolid lines), and permitting the card 210 to move laterally past theswing arm 618 to the second pair of pinch rollers 604. Clockwisemovement of the deflecting portion 622, in the orientation shown in FIG.6, may also cause the deflecting portion 622 to contact a stack of cardsalready in the compartment 522 (see FIG. 5), making space for anincoming card 210 to be positioned on top of the stack. Once a trailingend of the card 210 has passed the first pair of pinch rollers 602, theswing arm 618 may be moved laterally from proximate the other chamber808 toward the first pair of pinch rollers 602 at least to a point wherethe deflecting portion 622 clears the trailing end of the card 210. Theswing arm 618 may then rotate counter-clockwise to a point where thedeflecting portion 622 is again located above the pinch point of atleast the second pair of pinch rollers 604. The swing arm 618 may thenbe moved laterally back toward the other chamber 808 in a reciprocatingmotion, causing the deflecting portion 622 to contact the trailing endof the card 210, urge the card 210 into the other chamber 808, andensure that the card 210 remains below the pinch point of the secondpair of rollers 604 in the event that another card 210 is placed on topof the stack in the other chamber 808.

The controller 202 may issue control signals to one or more upstreamcomponents relative to the diverter 110 to pause advancement of upstreamcards 210 at least until the given card 210 has been displaced fromfurther advancement toward the temporary storage 112 (see FIGS. 1, 2)and toward the other compartment 808. The biasing element 614, backstop616, or gravity may provide the necessary force to resist continuedrotation of the swing arm 606 or 618. The deflecting portion 622 and aguide 624 overlying the deflecting portion 622 downstream of the secondpair of pinch rollers 604 may also present guiding surfaces to directcards 210 passing through the second pair of pinch rollers 604 towardthe other compartment 808 and on top of any other cards 210 alreadylocated therein. The controller 202 may be capable of tracking thelocation of each card 210 within the card-handling device 100 in view ofits control over the input mechanism 104 and receipt of signals from thecard identification system 106 and/or defect detection system 500. Whena card having a specific identity (e.g., rank and suit) has beenidentified as having the defect (e.g., being torn, ripped, or unreadableby the card identification system 106) associated with the othercompartment 808, the controller 202 may update a database of which cardshave that specific defect with the number of total cards having thedefect and the identity of the specific card (or lack thereof) newlyadded to the list.

FIG. 7 is a schematic side view of a portion of the diverter 100 of FIG.1 upstream of the portion depicted in FIG. 6. Downstream of the defectdetection system 500 (see FIG. 5) and downstream of the deflector 520(see FIG. 5), the diverter 110 may include a set of rollers 702positioned and configured to transfer cards 210 laterally away from thetemporary storage 112 and toward the other compartment 808 (see FIG. 6).More specifically, the set of rollers 702 may include, for example, afirst pair of pinch rollers 704 positioned and oriented to receive cards210 from the adjacent pinch belt transport 516 (see FIG. 5) and tocontinue moving the cards from the defect detection system 500 towardthe temporary storage 112 (see FIGS. 1, 2) and a second pair of pinchrollers 706 positioned laterally between the first pair of pinch rollers704 and oriented to laterally displace cards 210 from between the firstpair of pinch rollers 704 away from the temporary storage 112 (see FIGS.1, 2). As a specific, nonlimiting example, the set of rollers 702 mayinclude a first pair of pinch rollers 704 having first axes of rotation708 oriented perpendicular to a direction of movement of each card 210from the immediately adjacent, upstream pinch belt transport 516 (seeFIG. 5) toward the temporary storage 112 (see FIGS. 1, 2) and a secondpair of pinch rollers 706 having second axes of rotation 710 orientedparallel to the direction of movement of each card 210 from theimmediately adjacent, upstream pinch belt transport 516 (see FIG. 5)toward the temporary storage 112 (see FIGS. 1, 2). In some embodiments,the first pair of pinch rollers 704 may be consolidated with, andreplaced by, the upstream pinch belt transport 516 (see FIG. 5), withthe second pair of pinch rollers 706 located horizontally between theupstream pinch belt transport 516 (see FIG. 5).

FIG. 8 is a partial cutaway, side perspective view of the diverter 110of a portion of the card-handling device FIG. 1, depicting components asdescribed above with respect to FIG. 6 and FIG. 7. These portions of thediverter 110 may be provided as a third independent module 800. Thethird independent module 800 may include a third frame 802 having a pairof plates 404 separated by, and secured to one another, by spacers 308.The plates 404 may include attachment features (e.g., holes, threadedholes, snap receivers) sized, positioned, and configured to enable theoperational components and the spacers 308 of the third independentmodule 800 to be supported by the plates 404 in a selected location andorientation relative to one another. In some embodiments, the plates 404may include additional holes enabling portions of the operationalcomponents not relied on for attachment to a given plate 404 to extendthrough the hole. As with FIG. 4, one plate 404 in FIG. 8 has beenremoved for convenience in depicting other components of the thirdindependent module 800.

The first pair of pinch rollers 704 may be located less than a card's210 minimum length laterally away from the immediately adjacent,upstream pinch belt transport 516 (see FIG. 5), one of the pinch rollers704 may be located vertically to contact a leading end of a card 210 asthe card 210 is advanced by the upstream pinch belt transport 516 (seeFIG. 5) and draw the card 210 between the pinch rollers 704, and thepinch rollers 704 may be vertically spaced from one another by adistance equal to, or less than, an average thickness of the cards 210.In some embodiments, the vertical distance between the pinch rollers 704may be variable, and the pinch rollers 704 may be urged toward oneanother by a biasing element (e.g., a spring or solenoid or linearactuator under control of the controller 202), which urging mayoptionally be under the selective control of the controller 202. Atleast one of the pinch rollers 704 may be driven by an associated motor804, either directly or via a force transfer mechanism. The motor 804may be operatively connected to the controller 202, which may issuecontrol signals to the motor 804 to cause the motor 804 to selectivelydrive the associated pinch roller 704 in a selected direction or stopdriving the associated pinch roller 704.

The second pair of pinch rollers 706 may be located more than a card's210 minimum length laterally away from the upstream pinch belt transport516 (see FIG. 5) and less than a card's 210 minimum length laterallyaway from the first pair of pinch rollers 704. A pinch point of thepinch rollers 706 may be located vertically to enable a card 210 toenter between the second pair of pinch rollers 706 as the card 210 isadvanced by the first pair of pinch rollers 704. The pinch rollers 704may be vertically spaced from one another by a distance equal to, orless than, an average thickness of the cards 210. In some embodiments,the vertical distance between the pinch rollers 706 may be variable, andthe pinch rollers 706 may be urged toward one another by a biasingelement (e.g., a spring or solenoid or linear actuator under control ofthe controller 202), which urging may optionally be under the selectivecontrol of the controller 202. At least one of the pinch rollers 706 maybe driven by an associated motor 806, either directly or via a forcetransfer mechanism. The motor 806 may be operatively connected to thecontroller 202, which may issue control signals to the motor 806 tocause the motor 806 to selectively drive the associated pinch roller 706in a selected direction or stop driving the associated pinch roller 706.

When the defect detection system 500 indicates that a given card 210does not exhibit any of the defects detectable utilizing the defectdetection system 500 (e.g., or if the defects are within an acceptabletolerance or threshold), and the card identification system 106 detectsthe identity of the given card 210, the controller 202 may issue controlsignals to the motor 804 driving the first pair of pinch rollers 704 tocontinue driving that card 210 toward the temporary storage 112 (seeFIGS. 1, 2) (e.g., the card 210 may continue in substantially the samedirection and/or plane along the card path). When the defect detectionsystem 500 indicates that a given card 210 exhibits at least one defect,the card identification system 106 is unable to detect the identity ofthe card 210, or both, and the card 210 has not already been redirectedto the compartment 522 (see FIG. 5) utilizing the deflector 520 (seeFIG. 5), the controller 202 may issue control signals to the motor 804driving the first pair of pinch rollers 704 to stop driving that card210 toward the temporary storage 112 (see FIGS. 1, 2). The controller202 may also issue control signals to one or more upstream components ofthe input mechanism 104 and/or the diverter 110 to pause advancement ofupstream cards 210 at least until the given card 210 has been displacedfrom further advancement toward the temporary storage 112 (see FIGS. 1,2). The controller 202 may then issue control signals to the motor 806to begin driving the second, transverse (e.g., perpendicular) pair ofpinch rollers 706, causing the pinch rollers 706 to drive the given card210 laterally out of the path from the defect detection system 500,through the third independent module 800, toward the other compartment808 (e.g., the card 210 may be direction in a direction transverse, andin substantially the same plane as, the original card path).

In some embodiments, the deflector 520 (see FIG. 5) may be employed onlyfor cards 210 having certain categories of defects and the diverter 110may be employed only for cards 210 having other categories of defects.For example, the deflector 520 (see FIG. 5) may be used to direct cards210 that are torn into the compartment 522, and the diverter 110 may beused to direct cards 210 that are bent, folded, creased, kinked, orfrayed beyond a predefined limit into the other compartment 808. Forexample, the controller 202 may cause the set of rollers 702 to redirecta card 210 laterally away from the temporary storage 112 (see FIGS. 1,2) when a maximum deviation of the major surface 212 of the card 210from a horizontal plane is about 0.3 mm or more. More specifically, thecontroller 202 may cause the set of rollers 702 to redirect a card 210laterally away from the temporary storage 112 (see FIGS. 1, 2) when themaximum deviation of the major surface 212 of the card 210 from thehorizontal plane is between about 0.3 mm and about 40 mm. As a specific,nonlimiting example, the controller 202 may cause the set of rollers 702to redirect a card 210 laterally away from the temporary storage 112(see FIGS. 1, 2) when the maximum deviation of the major surface 212 ofthe card 210 from the horizontal plane is about 0.4 mm, about 0.5 mm ormore, or about 0.6 mm or more.

The third independent module 800 may include the other compartment 808positioned, sized, shaped, and otherwise configured to temporarily storecards 210 having the certain categories of defects in a positionlaterally offset from the temporary storage 112 (see FIGS. 1, 2). Forexample, the set of rollers 702 may include those previously describepairs of pinch rollers 602 and 604 providing a continuous path from thepinch rollers 706 that initially divert the card to the othercompartment 808 configured as a removable rectangular prism and sized tohold bulk quantities of bent, folded, creased, kinked, and/or frayedcards 210 in the other compartment 808 for subsequent removal,inspection, recycling, repurposing, or any combination of these. As aspecific, nonlimiting example, the pinch rollers 706 and pinch rollers602 and 604 may be positioned and configured to cooperatively divert andtransfer bent, folded, creased, kinked, or frayed cards 210 from apathway extending from the defect detection system 500 (see FIG. 5) tothe temporary storage 112 (see FIGS. 1, 2) laterally outward to alaterally adjacent other compartment 808 sized to hold at least 52(e.g., up to 450) bent, folded, creased, kinked, or frayed cards 210 inan orderly stack and accessible by detaching a snap-in connection of theother compartment 808 and completely removing, emptying, andre-attaching the other compartment 808 or replacing with a similarlyconfigured and empty other compartment 808.

In some embodiments, the other compartment 808 may be capable ofvertically displacing as cards 210 are introduced into a stack at thebottom of the other compartment 808. For example, as a card 210 is urgedby the deflecting portion 622 of the swing arm 618 into the othercompartment 808, and on top of any other cards already stacked withinthe other compartment 808, the other compartment 808 may displace atleast substantially vertically downward by at least substantially thesame distance as the card's thickness to accommodate the card 210 withinthe other compartment 808. Once the other compartment 808 has reachedthe vertical bottom of its travel, the other compartment 808 may be fullof cards 210, and may be removed. The other compartment 808 may bebiased vertically upward (e.g., utilizing a spring).

FIG. 9 is a partial cutaway, side perspective view of a temporarystorage 112 and an output mechanism 1000 of the card-handling device 100of FIG. 1. Each of the temporary storage 112 and the output mechanism1000 may be configured as an independent module, and each independentmodule, including the temporary storage 112 and the output mechanism1000 may be supported on, and affixed to, a shared base 208. The base208 may include a fourth frame 902 having a pair of plates 404 separatedby, and secured to one another, by spacers 308. The plates 404 mayinclude attachment features (e.g., holes, threaded holes, snapreceivers) sized, positioned, and configured to enable the operationalcomponents and the spacers 308 of the base 208 to be supported by theplates 404 in a selected location and orientation relative to oneanother. In some embodiments, the plates 404 may include additionalholes enabling portions of the operational components not relied on forattachment to a given plate 404 to extend through the hole.

The temporary storage 112 may be supported on the base 208 and mayinclude compartments 904 sized, shaped, and configured to temporarilystore cards 210 from the third independent module 800 (see FIG. 8) thathave passed inspection by the defect detection system 500 and optionallythe card identification system 106. For example, each compartment 904may be sized and shaped to temporarily store multiple cards 210 in asubgrouping of at least two cards 210, and may be configured to inhibit(e.g., prevent) the cards 210 from prematurely exiting the compartment904. More specifically, each compartment 904 may be sized and shaped totemporarily store between one and ten cards 210 in a subgrouping, andmay include at least one clamp positioned to apply force to a majorsurface 212 of a card 210 in the subgrouping and maintain thesubgrouping in the compartment 904 utilizing frictional force. As aspecific, nonlimiting example, each compartment 904 may be sized andshaped to temporarily store up to five cards 210 in a subgrouping, andmay include at least one leaf spring positioned to apply force to amajor surface 212 of a card 210 in the subgrouping and maintain thesubgrouping in the compartment 904 utilizing frictional force.

The compartments 904 may be arranged, for example, in a vertical stackor in a circumferential sequence. The temporary storage 112, or at leastthe compartments 904 thereof, may be movable to selectively align agiven compartment 904 with the output of the third independent module800 to receive a card 210 or with the output mechanism 1000 to output acard 210 thereto. For example, in embodiments where the compartments 904are arranged in a circumferential sequence around a hub, the temporarystorage 112 may be rotatable utilizing a motor 906, either directly orutilizing a force transfer mechanism, a configuration typically referredto in the art as a “carousel.” In embodiments where the compartments 904are arranged in a vertical stack, the temporary storage 112 may beraised and lowered utilizing the motor 906, either directly or utilizinga force transfer mechanism, a configuration typically referred to in theart as an “elevator.” The position of the temporary storage 112 and thecompartments 904 thereof, as well as the operation of the motor 906, maybe tracked and controlled utilizing the controller 202.

The temporary storage 112 may have a sufficient number of compartments904, and sufficient capacity in each compartment 904, to temporarilystore at least one deck of at least 52 standard playing cards 210. Forexample, the temporary storage 112 may include at least 53 compartments904, and each compartment may be sized and configured to temporarilystore at least two cards 210. More specifically, the temporary storage112 may include, for example, between about 106 and about 150compartments 904, and each compartment 904 may be sized and configuredto temporarily store up to ten cards. As a specific, nonlimitingexample, the temporary storage 112 may include, for example, 130compartments 904, and each compartment 904 may be sized and configuredto temporarily store up to five cards. In some embodiments, thetemporary storage 112 may be capable of temporarily storing, forexample, up to 12 decks of 53 playing cards 210 (52 standard cards andone joker) with room for excess or duplicate cards in additionalcompartments 904. More specifically, the temporary storage 112 may becapable of temporarily storing, for example, up to 10 decks of 53playing cards 210 (52 standard cards and one joker) with room for excessor duplicate cards in between about 10 and about 30 (e.g., about 25)additional compartments 904.

In some embodiments, the controller 202 may be configured to utilize thestored identity of a card 210 from the card identification system 106(see FIG. 3), the tracked position of the card 210 along the inputmechanism 104 (see FIGS. 1-8), and the tracked position and controlledmovement of the temporary storage 112 to insert a card 210 having aspecified identity into a designated compartment 904 for cards havingthat identity. For example, the controller 202 may associate eachcompartment 904 with a card identity, and cause only cards 210 havingthat identity to be received into the respective compartment 904assigned to that identity. More specifically, the controller 202 mayassociate designated subgroupings of the compartments 904 with a uniquecard identity for each subgrouping, and cause only cards 210 having thatidentity to be inserted into the compartments 904 of the designatedsubgrouping assigned to that identity. As a specific, nonlimitingexample, the controller 202 may predesignate two adjacent compartments904 to a respective rank and suit for cards corresponding to a 52-carddeck of standard playing cards, enabling a temporary storage 112 having104 compartments 904 to temporarily store up to ten 52-card decks ofstandard playing cards 210, and may predesignate any additionalcompartments 904 to receive cards in excess of the ten-card limit for agiven rank or suit (while tracking what identity of card 210 is placedin a respective additional compartment 904) or special cards, in theevent that more than ten of a card 210 having a given identity arereceived into the card-handling device 100.

The output mechanism 1000 may be located adjacent to the temporarystorage 112 on a lateral side of the temporary storage 112 opposite thedefect detection system 500, and may cause one or more cards 210 to beejected from the temporary storage 112 for output from the card-handlingdevice 100. The output mechanism 1000 may include a first push bar 908located on a same lateral side of a given compartment 904 as the defectdetection system 500 (see FIGS. 1, 5) when the compartment 904 ispositioned for unloading by the output mechanism 1000. The first pushbar 908 may be movable toward an opposite lateral side of the givencompartment 904, a portion of the first push bar 908 making contact withthe cards 210 within the compartment 904 and urging them away from thedefect detection system 500 (see FIGS. 1, 5) and partially out of thecompartment 904. Trailing ends of the cards 210 in the compartment 904may remain in the compartment 904, and the first push bar 908 may bereturned to its original position proximate to the defect detectionsystem 500 (see FIGS. 1, 5). The first push bar 908 may be actuableutilizing a motor, either directly or via a force transfer mechanism,under control of the controller 202. Additional detail regarding theoutput mechanism 1000 is provided in connection with FIGS. 10 through 12below.

FIG. 10 is a schematic side view of selected portions of the outputmechanism 1000 of FIG. 9. FIG. 10 also depicts an illustrativeconfiguration for the compartments 904 of the temporary storage 112.Each compartment 904 may include a cantilevered arm 1002 extendingradially outward from a hub, and a retainer 1004 at a distal end of thearm 1002. Rotationally adjacent arms 1002 may define the circumferentialwalls of the compartment 904, and the retainer 1004 may extendcircumferentially from one arm 1002 toward a rotationally adjacent arm1002. The retainer 1004 may be movable relative to the rotationallyadjacent arm 1002 to adjust the circumferential space in the compartment904 for accommodating the cards 210, and may be biased toward therotationally adjacent arm 1002 (e.g., using a spring 1006) to applypressure against the cards 210 in the compartment 904 to assist inretaining the cards 210 therein.

The output mechanism 1000 may include, for example, a platform 1008located laterally adjacent to the temporary storage 112 on a side of thetemporary storage 112 opposite the defect detection system 500 (seeFIGS. 1, 5). A bottom portion of a compartment 904 from which a card 210is to be withdrawn as defined by the retainer 1004 may be brought intogeneral alignment with the platform 1008 under control of the controller202. As the stack of cards 210 in the compartment 904 is urged partiallyout from the compartment 904, the stack and particularly a bottom-mostcard 210 in the stack may contact the platform 1008. When the stack ofcards 210 in the compartment 904 is pushed to the maximum partialremoval enabled by the first push bar 908 (see FIG. 9), a top-most card210 in the stack may contact a pick-off roller 1010 overlying theplatform 1008. The platform 1008 may be located an average thickness ofa card 210 or less away from the pick-off roller 1010 when no cards 210are in contact with the platform 1008. The platform 1008 may be movable,enabling the space between the platform 1008 and the pick-off roller1010 to adjust to the height of the stack of cards 210. The platform1008 may also be biased toward the pick-off roller 1010 (e.g., by aspring 1012 underlying the platform 1008), increasing the likelihood(e.g., ensuring) that there will be sufficient contact friction betweenthe pick-off roller 1010 and the top-most card 210 for rotation of thepick-off roller 1010 to move the top-most card 210.

The pick-off roller 1010 may rotate and drive, for example, only thetop-most card 210 in the stack out of the compartment 904 and laterallyaway from the temporary storage 112 for output. For example, thetop-most card 210 may make contact with a deflector 1014 positioned andoriented to cause the card 210 to deform elastically and present itsleading end to another pair of pinch rollers 1016, which may contact thecard 210, draw the card 210 between the pinch rollers 1016, and drivethe card 210 laterally farther away from the compartment 904 from whichit has been withdrawn. Thus, when unloading of a specified type has beenrequested, the desired cards 210 may be unloaded from the temporarystorage 112 one card 210 at a time. In other embodiments, more than onecard 210 may be removed from a compartment 904 at a time.

In embodiments where the compartments 904 are unloaded one card 210 at atime, the remainder of the stack of cards 210 following removal of theone card 210 may be reinserted back into the compartment 904. Forexample, the output mechanism 1000 may include a second push bar 1018positioned, oriented, and configured to reinsert the remaining cards 210into the temporary storage 112 for continued temporary storage awaitingsubsequent output. The second push bar 1018 located on a lateral side ofthe platform 1008 opposite the compartment 904 into which cards 210 areto be reinserted as the top-most card 210 is removed from the stack. Thesecond push bar 1018 may be movable toward an opposite lateral side ofthe platform 1008 and toward the compartment 904, a portion of thesecond push bar 1018 making contact with the cards 210 remainingpartially within the compartment 904 and urging them back toward acenter of the temporary storage 112 and more completely into thecompartment 904. The second push bar 1018 may then be returned to itsoriginal position hidden behind the platform 1008.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of other selected portions of the outputmechanism 1000 of FIG. 2. FIG. 12 is a partial cutaway, side perspectiveview of the other selected portions of the output mechanism 1000 of FIG.11. With combined reference to FIGS. 11 and 12, the output mechanism1000 may be configured as a fourth independent module 1100 to besupported on, and affixed to, the base 208 (see FIGS. 2, 9). The fourthindependent module 1100 may include a fourth frame 902 having a pair ofplates 404 separated by, and secured to one another, by spacers 308. Theplates 404 may include attachment features (e.g., holes, threaded holes,snap receivers) sized, positioned, and configured to enable theoperational components and the spacers 308 of the third independentmodule 800 to be supported by the plates 404 in a selected location andorientation relative to one another. In some embodiments, the plates 404may include additional holes enabling portions of the operationalcomponents not relied on for attachment to a given plate 404 to extendthrough the hole. As with FIG. 4, one plate 404 in FIG. 12 has beenremoved for convenience in depicting other components of the fourthindependent module 1100.

Each of the pick-off roller 1010, pinch rollers 1016, and second pushbar 1018 by a respective one of the associated motor 1102, motor 1104,or motor 1202, either directly or via a force transfer mechanism. Eachof the motor 1102, motor 1104, and motor 1202 may be operativelyconnected to the controller 202, which may issue control signals to themotor 1102, motor 1104, and/or motor 1202 to cause the motor 1102, motor1104, and motor 1202 to cooperatively and selectively unload a card at atime from a given compartment 904 and reinsert any remaining cards backinto the compartment 904.

FIG. 13 is a partial cutaway, perspective view of another independentmodule 1300 located downstream of the output mechanism 1000 of FIG. 9.Downstream of the fourth independent module 1100 (see FIG. 11), thefifth independent module 1300 may include a set of rollers 1304positioned and configured to transfer cards 210 laterally away from thetemporary storage 112. More specifically, the set of rollers 1304 mayinclude, for example, a first pair of pinch rollers 1306 positioned andoriented to receive cards 210 from the adjacent pinch rollers 1016 (seeFIGS. 10-12) and to continue moving the cards from the fourthindependent module 1100 away from the temporary storage 112 (see FIGS.1, 2) and a second pair of pinch rollers 1308 positioned laterallybetween the first pair of pinch rollers 1306 and oriented to laterallydisplace cards 210 from between the first pair of pinch rollers 1306away from the temporary storage 112 (see FIGS. 1, 2). As a specific,nonlimiting example, the set of rollers 1304 may include a first pair ofpinch rollers 1306 having axes of rotation oriented transverse (e.g.,perpendicular) to a direction of movement of each card 210 from theimmediately adjacent, upstream pinch rollers 1016 (see FIG. 10) awayfrom the temporary storage 112 (see FIGS. 1, 2) and a second pair ofpinch rollers 1308 having axes of rotation oriented parallel to thedirection of movement of each card 210 from the immediately adjacent,upstream pinch rollers 1016 (see FIG. 10) away from the temporarystorage 112 (see FIGS. 1, 2). In some embodiments, the first pair ofpinch rollers 1306 may be consolidated with, and replaced by, theupstream pinch rollers 1016 (see FIG. 10), with the second pair of pinchrollers 706 located laterally between the upstream pinch rollers 1016(see FIG. 10).

The fifth independent module 1300 may include a fifth frame 1310 havingat least a pair of plates 404 separated by, and secured to one another,by spacers 308. The plates 404 may include attachment features (e.g.,holes, threaded holes, snap receivers) sized, positioned, and configuredto enable the operational components and the spacers 308 of the fifthindependent module 1300 to be supported by the plates 404 in a selectedlocation and orientation relative to one another. In some embodiments,the plates 404 may include additional holes enabling portions of theoperational components not relied on for attachment to a given plate 404to extend through the hole. As with FIG. 4, one plate 404 in FIG. 13 hasbeen removed for convenience in depicting other components of the fifthindependent module 1300.

The first pair of pinch rollers 1306 may be located less than a card's210 minimum length laterally away from the immediately adjacent,upstream pinch rollers 1016 (see FIG. 10), one of the pinch rollers 1306may be located vertically to contact a leading end of a card 210 as thecard 210 is advanced by the upstream pinch rollers 1016 (see FIG. 10)and draw the card 210 between the pinch rollers 1306, and the pinchrollers 1306 may be vertically spaced from one another by a distanceequal to, or less than, an average thickness of the cards 210. In someembodiments, the vertical distance between the pinch rollers 1306 may bevariable, and the pinch rollers 1306 may be urged toward one another bya biasing element (e.g., a spring or solenoid or linear actuator undercontrol of the controller 202), which urging may optionally be under theselective control of the controller 202. At least one of the pinchrollers 1306 may be driven by an associated motor 1314, either directlyor via a force transfer mechanism. The motor 1314 may be operativelyconnected to the controller 202, which may issue control signals to themotor 1314 to cause the motor 1314 to selectively drive the associatedpinch roller 1306 in a selected direction or stop driving the associatedpinch roller 1306.

The second pair of pinch rollers 1308 may be located more than a card's210 minimum length laterally away from the adjacent, upstream pinchrollers 1016 (see FIG. 10) and less than a card's 210 minimum lengthlaterally away from the first pair of pinch rollers 1306, a pinch pointof the pinch rollers 1308 may be located vertically to enable a card 210to enter between the second pair of pinch rollers 1308 as the card 210is advanced by the first pair of pinch rollers 1306, and the pinchrollers 1308 may be vertically spaced from one another by a distanceequal to, or less than, an average thickness of the cards 210. In someembodiments, the vertical distance between the pinch rollers 1308 may bevariable, and the pinch rollers 1308 may be urged toward one another bya biasing element (e.g., a spring or solenoid or linear actuator undercontrol of the controller 202), which urging may optionally be under theselective control of the controller 202. At least one of the pinchrollers 1308 may be driven by an associated motor 1316, either directlyor via a force transfer mechanism. The motor 1316 may be operativelyconnected to the controller 202, which may issue control signals to themotor 1316 to cause the motor 1316 to selectively drive the associatedpinch roller 1308 in a selected direction or stop driving the associatedpinch roller 1308.

When the controller 202 indicates that a given card 210 is to be outputfrom the temporary storage 112, the controller 202 may issue controlsignals to the motor 1314 driving the first pair of pinch rollers 1306to continue driving that card 210 away from the temporary storage 112(see FIGS. 1, 2). The controller 202 may then issue control signals tothe motor 1314 driving the first pair of pinch rollers 1306 to stopdriving that card 210 away from the temporary storage 112 (see FIGS. 1,2). The controller 202 may also issue control signals to one or moreupstream components of the input mechanism 104 to pause advancement ofupstream cards 210 at least until the given card 210 has been displacedfrom further advancement. The controller 202 may then issue controlsignals to the motor 1316 to begin driving the second, perpendicularpair of pinch rollers 1308, causing the pinch rollers 1308 to drive thegiven card 210 laterally out of the path from the temporary storage 112,through the fifth independent module 1300, toward an output compartment1312.

The output compartment 1312 may be positioned, sized, shaped, andotherwise configured to temporarily store cards 210 for output in aposition laterally offset from the temporary storage 112 (see FIGS. 1,2). For example, the set of rollers 1304 may include additional pairs ofpinch rollers 1318 providing a continuous path from the pinch rollers1308 that initially divert the card to the output compartment 1312configured as a removable rectangular prism and sized to hold bulkquantities of approved cards 210 in the output compartment 1312 forsubsequent removal, inspection, and/or reuse. As a specific, nonlimitingexample, the pinch rollers 1306 and pinch rollers 1308 may be positionedand configured to cooperatively divert and transfer approved cards 210from a pathway extending from the temporary storage 112 (see FIGS. 1, 2)laterally outward to a laterally adjacent output compartment 1312 sizedto hold at least 52 (e.g., up to 450) cards 210 approved for commercialreuse in an orderly stack and accessible by detaching a snap-inconnection of the output compartment 1312 and completely removing,emptying, and re-attaching the output compartment 1312 or replacing witha similarly configured and empty output compartment 1312. Such aconfiguration may enable the collection of certain subgroupings of cards210 previously located within the temporary storage 112, optionally in adesired known or random ordering, for output within the outputcompartment 1312. For example, the output compartment 1312 may receive,temporarily store, and present an orderly collection of cards 210 (e.g.,in a stack) corresponding to one or more 52- or 53-card decks ofstandard playing cards for withdrawal at a time.

In some embodiments, the output compartment 1312 may be capable ofvertically displacing as cards 210 are introduced into a stack at thebottom of the output compartment 1312. For example, as a card 210 isurged by the set of rollers 1304 into the output compartment 1312, andon top of any other cards already stacked within the output compartment1312, the output compartment 1312 may displace at least substantiallyvertically downward by at least substantially the same distance as thecard's thickness to accommodate the card 210 within the outputcompartment 1312. Once the output compartment 1312 has reached thevertical bottom of its travel, the output compartment 1312 may be fullof cards 210, and may be removed. The output compartment 1312 may bebiased vertically upward (e.g., utilizing a spring).

In some embodiments, the third independent module 800 (see FIG. 8) andthe fifth independent module 1300 may be similar or substantiallyidentical, reducing the number of unique modules for connection to thebase 208 (see FIG. 2) and enabling interchangeability for ease ofmaintenance and repair.

In some embodiments, the card-handling device 100 may be operable indistinct modes. For example, the controller 202 may cause the componentsof the card-handling device 100 to cooperatively operate to output a setof cards 210 in a predefined order when operating in a sorting mode orto output a set of randomly ordered cards 210 of a predefinedcomposition when operating in a shuffling mode. More specifically, thecontroller 202 may cause the components of the card-handling device 100to cooperatively operate to output, for example, a set of cards 210corresponding to at least one 52- or 53-card deck of standard playingcards, with each deck arranged in order by rank, suit, or both, whenoperating in a sorting mode or to output a set of randomly ordered cards210 corresponding to at least one 52- or 53-card deck of standardplaying cards, with all decks in randomized order and intermixed withone another, when operating in a shuffling mode. As a specific,nonlimiting example, the controller 202 may cause the components of thecard-handling device 100 to cooperatively operate to output, forexample, a set of cards 210 corresponding to between 6 and 12 (e.g., 8,10) 52- or 53-card deck of standard playing cards, with each deckarranged in order by rank, suit, or both, when operating in a sortingmode or to output a set of randomly ordered cards 210 corresponding tobetween 6 and 12 (e.g., 8, 10) 52- or 53-card deck of standard playingcards, with all decks in randomized order and intermixed with oneanother, when operating in a shuffling mode. In other embodiments, thecard-handling device 100 may have a single operational mode, and mayeither sort or randomize cards for output.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a method 1400 of assembling acard-handling device 100 in accordance with this disclosure. The method1400 may involve, for example, positioning an input mechanism 104between an input area 102 sized and shaped to receive a stack of cards210 and a temporary storage 112 including compartments 904 fortemporarily storing the cards 210 (see FIGS. 1, 2, 9), as indicated atact 1402. A defect detection system 500 may then be positioned betweenthe input area 102 and the temporary storage 112 (see FIGS. 1, 2, 5), asindicated at act 1404. More specifically, assembling a card-handlingdevice 100 may involve supporting and affixing a first independentmodule 300 (see FIG. 3) including the input area 102, the inputmechanism 104, and optionally a card identification system 106 on a base208 (see FIG. 2). A defect detection system 500 (see FIG. 5) may besupported and affixed on the base 208 (see FIG. 2) laterally adjacent tothe first independent module 300 (see FIG. 2). A diverter 110 (see FIGS.2, 6-8) may be supported and affixed on the base 208 (see FIG. 2)laterally adjacent to the defect detection system 500 (see FIG. 5). Atemporary storage 112 (see FIG. 2) may be supported and affixed on thebase 208 (see FIG. 2) laterally adjacent to the diverter 110. Finally,an output mechanism 1000 may be supported and affixed on the base 208(see FIG. 2) laterally adjacent to the temporary storage 112.

In other embodiments, one or more additional modules may be supported onand affixed to the base 208, and/or one or more of the previouslydescribed modules may be omitted, which may augment or otherwise alterthe functionality of the card-handling device 100. For example, modulescapable of performing other card verification, quality checks, and,optionally, randomization may be added. As another example, a modulecapable of directly outputting one card at a time (e.g., like a shoe) orsubgroupings of cards at a time (e.g., like hands to be dealt) may besupported on and affixed to the base 208, rather than the outputmechanism 1000 shown and described in connection with FIGS. 10 through12.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating a method 1500 of using acard-handling device 100 in accordance with this disclosure. The method1500 may involve placing a stack of cards 210 in an input area 102 ofthe card-handling device 100 (see FIG. 2), as indicated at act 1502.Cards 210 may be transferred from the input area 102 toward a temporarystorage 112 comprising compartments 904, each compartment 904 sized,shaped, and configured to temporarily store at least two cards in therespective compartment, as indicated at act 1504. A defective card 210may be detected utilizing a defect detection system 500 interposedbetween the input area 102 and the temporary storage 112, as indicatedat act 1506. Radiation may be emitted toward a card 210 as the card 210is transferred by the input mechanism 104 utilizing an emitter 510 (seeFIGS. 2, 5), as indicated at act 1508. Radiation emitted by the emitter510 and reflected from a major surface 212 of the card 210 may bedetected utilizing a detector 514 as the card 210 is transferred by theinput mechanism 104 (see FIGS. 2, 5), as indicated at act 1510. A signalindicative of radiation detected by the detector 514 may be received ata controller 202 and the controller 202 may produce a signal indicativeof whether the card 210 is bent beyond a predefined limit or is torn, asindicated at act 1512.

Card-handling devices in accordance with this disclosure mayautomatically screen cards for certain defects, separate defective cardsfrom approved cards, collect approved cards for future use, and becapable of performing such screening efficiently in bulk. Uniquetechniques and hardware employed by card-handling devices in accordancewith this disclosure may reduce waste by identifying cards that may besuitable for continued use, rather than rejecting an entire deck whenany one card in the deck has been determined to be defective.Card-handling devices in accordance with this disclosure may also morequickly, with preliminary results from prototype devices capable ofverifying seven complete sets of between 6 and 12 52- or 53-card decksof standard playing cards per hour and forming two complete sets ofbetween 6 and 12 52- or 53-card decks of standard playing cards per hourutilizing one card-handling device. On average, about 60% of cardsrepresentative of a normal use cycle for playing cards were discarded asdefective, meaning that 40% of card that would normally be rejected aswaste were reusable. The card-handling devices in accordance with thisdisclosure may also assist in identifying and reducing the effectivenessof certain techniques for cheating, such as, for example, markingcertain cards by bending, folding, creasing, kinking, fraying, and/ortearing the cards.

While certain illustrative embodiments have been described in connectionwith the figures, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize andappreciate that the scope of this disclosure is not limited to thoseembodiments explicitly shown and described in this disclosure. Rather,many additions, deletions, and modifications to the embodimentsdescribed in this disclosure may be made to produce embodiments withinthe scope of this disclosure, such as those specifically claimed,including legal equivalents. In addition, features from one disclosedembodiment may be combined with features of another disclosed embodimentwhile still being within the scope of this disclosure, as contemplatedby the inventor.

What is claimed is:
 1. A card-handling device, comprising: an input areasized and shaped to receive cards; an output area for outputting atleast some of the cards; a defect detection system located along a cardpath downstream from the input area, the defect detection systemconfigured to scan at least one card of the received cards to determinewhether at least one characteristic of the at least one card has beenmodified beyond a predetermined limit or whether the at least onecharacteristic of the at least one card is within the predeterminedlimit; and a diverter configured to: divert the at least one card fromthe card path when the at least one characteristic of the at least onecard has been modified beyond the predetermined limit; and enable the atleast one card to continue on the card path when the at least onecharacteristic of the at least one card is within the predeterminedlimit.
 2. The card-handling device of claim 1, wherein the divertercomprises a set of rollers positioned and configured to divert cardsfrom the card path in a direction transverse to the card path to aholding location.
 3. The card-handling device of claim 1, furthercomprising a deflector comprising a curved surface selectivelypositionable in the card path to divert cards from the card path to thesecond location.
 4. The card-handling device of claim 1, wherein thediverter comprises: a first card diverter configured to redirect cardsthat exhibit a first characteristic of the at least one characteristicmodified beyond the predetermined limit to a first location of thecard-handling device; and a second card diverter configured to redirectcards that exhibit a second characteristic of the at least onecharacteristic modified beyond the predetermined limit to a secondlocation of the card-handling device.
 5. The card-handling device ofclaim 4, wherein the first card diverter comprises a set of rollerspositioned and configured to divert cards from the card path in adirection transverse to the card path to the first location, and wherethe second card diverter comprises a deflector comprising a curvedsurface selectively positionable in the card path to divert cards fromthe card path to the second location.
 6. The card-handling device ofclaim 1, wherein the defect detection system comprises: an emitterpositioned and configured to emit radiation toward a card as the cardmoves along the card path; a detector positioned and configured todetect radiation emitted by the emitter and reflected from a surface ofthe card toward the detector as the card moves along the card path; anda controller operatively connected to at least the detector, thecontroller configured to receive a signal indicative of radiationdetected by the detector and produce a signal indicative of whether thecard is bent beyond a predefined limit or is torn.
 7. The card-handlingdevice of claim 6, wherein the emitter is oriented to emit the radiationat an acute angle relative to the surface of the card during movement ofthe card along the card path.
 8. The card-handling device of claim 6,wherein the defect detection system comprises radiation absorbersflanking a position where the emitter is oriented to emit radiationimpinging on the surface of the card.
 9. The card-handling device ofclaim 1, further comprising: a temporary storage comprising compartmentspositioned along the card path, the temporary storage interposed betweenthe input area and the output area, each compartment sized, shaped, andconfigured to temporarily store at least two cards in the respectivecompartment; and an input mechanism positioned and configured totransfer cards along the card path from the input area to the temporarystorage when the cards are not diverted from the card path by thediverter.
 10. The card-handling device of claim 9, further comprising anoutput mechanism positioned and configured to remove one card at a timefrom a respective compartment of the temporary storage when therespective compartment is aligned with the output mechanism.
 11. Thecard-handling device of claim 10, wherein the output mechanism comprisesa first push bar positioned and configured to push a stack of cards in arespective compartment partially out of the compartment, a set ofrollers positioned and configured to completely remove only one cardfrom the stack completely out of the compartment, and a second push barpositioned and configured to push a remainder of the stack of cards backinto the respective compartment.
 12. The card-handling device of claim9, further comprising a sensor operatively connected to the controllerand positioned and configured to identify at least a rank and suit ofeach card before each card reaches the temporary storage, and whereinthe controller is configured to cooperatively control the inputmechanism and the temporary storage to ensure that each compartment ofthe temporary storage receives only a respective card of a same rank andsuit therein, different compartments being assigned different cards ofthe same rank and suit.
 13. The card-handling device of claim 12,wherein the controller is configured to cooperatively control thetemporary storage and an output mechanism to cause the output mechanismto output cards corresponding to at least one standard 52-card deck ofplaying cards from the temporary storage in a predefined order when thecard-handling device is in a sorting mode and to output cardscorresponding to at least one standard 52-card deck of playing cardsfrom the temporary storage in a randomized order when the card-handlingdevice is in a shuffling mode.
 14. The card-handling device of claim 8,further comprising a push bar positioned and configured to push cardsfrom the input mechanism to the input area in response to a controlsignal from the controller when a jam is detected in the card-handlingdevice.
 15. The card-handling device of claim 1, wherein the at leastone characteristic of the at least one card comprises at least one of abent card, a torn card, a ripped card, an unreadable card, a markedcard, a modified card, a folded card, a creased card, a kinked card, ora frayed card.
 16. A method of assembling a card-handling device,comprising: positioning a defect detection system in a card path betweenan input area and an output area, the defect detection system configuredto scan at least one card to determine whether at least onecharacteristic of the at least one card has been modified beyond apredetermined limit or whether the at least one characteristic of the atleast one card is within the predetermined limit; and positioning adiverter in the card path downstream from the defect detection system,the diverter configured to: divert the at least one card from the cardpath when the at least one characteristic of the at least one card hasbeen modified beyond the predetermined limit; and enable the at leastone card to continue on the card path when the at least onecharacteristic of the at least one card is within the predeterminedlimit.
 17. A method of using a card-handling device, comprising: placingcards in an input area of the card-handling device; moving cards fromthe input area along a card path toward an output area; detecting adefective card utilizing a defect detection system interposed betweenthe input area and the output area by scanning the card to determinewhether at least one characteristic of the card has been modified beyonda predetermined limit; and diverting the card from the card pathutilizing a diverter when the at least one characteristic of the cardhas been modified beyond the predetermined limit.
 18. The method ofclaim 17, further comprising: storing at least the diverted card at alocation of the card-handling device; and delivering cards exhibitingthe at least one characteristic within the predetermined limit to theoutput area.
 19. The method of claim 17, wherein diverting the cardcomprises deflecting the card downward toward a compartment underlyingthe card path utilizing a deflector when the defect detection systemindicates that the card is torn.
 20. The method of claim 17, whereindiverting the card comprises transferring cards laterally toward acompartment laterally offset relative to the card path utilizing a setof rollers when the defect detection system indicates that the card isbent beyond the predetermined limit.
 21. The method of claim 17, whereindiverting the card when the at least one characteristic of the card hasbeen modified beyond the predetermined limit comprises diverting thecard to a first location when a first characteristic of the card hasbeen modified beyond a first predetermined limit and diverting the cardto a second, different location when a second, different characteristicof the card has been modified beyond a second predetermined limit. 22.The method of claim 17, further comprising outputting cardscorresponding to at least one standard 52-card deck of playing cardsfrom the card-handling device in a predefined order when thecard-handling device is in a sorting mode and outputting cardscorresponding to at least one standard 52-card deck of playing cardsfrom the card-handling device in a randomized order when thecard-handling device is in a shuffling mode.